I looked up Agrodome and Maori Cultural Center in Rotorua, that looks like a pretty amazing place to go too! As far as the north island being hot, we might actually enjoy the warmer weather, we live in southern Arizona, but it can get pretty cold here in the winter.
Thank you for the link to the quilt shops djane, how lucky your daughter has been to have living there since the 1st of the year! My sister-in-law used to live there in the early 80's and she would send me books of how beautiful it is there, what a bonus to have so many quilt shops too!!